Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology

Spencer, The Hon. George (In religion, Ignatius of St. Paul). Passionist, b. at the Admiralty, London, 21 Dec., 1799; d. at Carstairs, Scotland, 1 Oct., 1864. He was the youngest son of the second Earl Spencer and Lavinia, daughter of Sir Charles Bingham. From Eton he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, received Anglican orders, 13 … Continue reading “Spencer, The Hon. George”

Spencer, Robert O a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Columbia, Ohio, Feb. 10, 1806. He began to preach at the age of seventeen, and was admitted on trial into the Ohio Conference in 1824. He labored actively for thirty-four years, sixteen of them as presiding elder, when he was obliged, by … Continue reading “Spencer, Robert O”

Spencer, John a learned English divine was a native of Bocton-under-Blean, in Kent, where he was baptized Oct. 31, 1630. He was educated at Canterbury, and admitted to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, March 25, 1645, taking his A.B. in 1648, A.M. in 1652, and being chosen fellow in 1655. He became a tutor, was appointed … Continue reading “Spencer, John”

Spencer, Ichabod Smith, D.D an eminent divine of the Presbyterian Church, was born in Rupert, Vt., Feb. 23, 1798. His early educational advantages were limited, consisting only of the training of a common school. The death of his father, in 1815, marked a decisive epoch in the history of his life, and the following year … Continue reading “Spencer, Ichabod Smith, D.D”

Spencer, Herbert (1820-1903) was the great English philosopher who devoted a life time to the formulation and execution of a plan to follow the idea of development as a first principle through all the avenues of human thought. A precursor of Darwin with his famous notion of all organic evolution as a change “from homogeneity … Continue reading “Spencer, Herbert”

Spencer, George Trevor, D.D a missionary of the Church of England, was born in 1800. He graduated at University College, Oxford, in 1822; the same year was nominated incumbent of Buxton, Derbyshire, but resigned this position in 1829, when he was presented to the rectory of Leaden Roding, near Chipping Ongar. In 1837 he was … Continue reading “Spencer, George Trevor, D.D”

Spencer, Francis a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was converted in his eighteenth year, at Springville, Pa., and joined the Presbyterian Church. He afterwards united with the Methodist Church, and was licensed to preach June 10, 1848. He was received on trial in the Wyoming Conference in 1855, and continued a member thereof until … Continue reading “Spencer, Francis”

Spencer, Elihu, D.D a Presbyterian divine, was born at East Haddam, Conn., Feb. 12, 1721. He commenced a course of literary study, with a view to the Gospel ministry, in March, 1740, and graduated at Yale College in September 1746. After graduation he was urged to undertake a mission among the Indians of the Six … Continue reading “Spencer, Elihu, D.D”

Spence, Thomas a Scotch prelate, was bishop of Galloway in 1451, and was employed in several embassies, particularly in the treaty of marriage between the duke of Savoy and Lewis, count de Maurienne, with Arabella, in 1449. In 1451 he was appointed by king James II one of. his ambassadors to negotiate a truce with … Continue reading “Spence, Thomas”

Spence, Robert W a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was born May 11, 1824, in South Carolina. He, first joined the Presbyterian Church, but this being dissolved in his neighborhood, he then united with the Methodist. He was licensed to preach, and joined the Alabama Conference in 1849. After a successful ministry of … Continue reading “Spence, Robert W”